Royals on the Farm 4/21

AAA - Omaha: New Orleans 6, O-Royals 2

LF Lubanski 1-3, HR (3), 2 RBI (10), RS -- .228
2B Aviles 1-4, K, SB (2) -- .319
CF Costa 0-4, K -- .333
1B Shealy 0-2, 2 BB, K -- .169
DH Stodolka 0-2, BB, RS -- .282

Maroth 2 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 2 BB, K -- L, 0-1, 7.50 ERA, 40 pitches
Duckworth 3 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 5 BB, 5 K -- 5.28 ERA, mucho walko
Tsao 2 IP, H, 3 K -- 5.40 ERA, back off inactive list
Fulchino 2 IP, 2 ER, 3 H, K -- 2.57 ERA

*** It was a night of 2-run innings but New Orleans had 3 to Omaha's 1 as the O-Royals had only 3 hits. Omaha starter Mike Maroth had a rough 2nd as he started the innings with 2 walks and allowed an RBI single and sac fly but stranded 2 in the frame. Brandon Duckworth took over in the 3rd and, with 2 out in the 4th, gave up a single, RBI double, hit batsman, walk and then walked in a 2nd run to make it 4-0 Zephyrs. Duckworth stranded the bases full. Omaha stranded 2 in the 4th and Duckworth walked 3 in the 5th but worked around them. With 2 outs in the Omaha 5th, Mike Stodolka walked and Chris Lubanski hit his 3rd homer of the season to cut it to 4-2. Chin-hui Tsao pitched 2 solid innings and Jeff Fulchino came in for the 8th. With 2 on and 1 out, he gave up a sac fly and RBI double to extend the Zephyrs' lead to 6-2. Omaha stranded 2 in the 9th. Zephyrs SP Jose Diaz, who pitched for Omaha and KC in 2006, got the win with 2 ER on 2 hits, 3 walks and 7 Ks over 7 IP to move to 1-2 with a 2.96 ERA. Zephyrs RF Victor Mendez was 3-3 with a walk and his 5th RBI to move to .355.

Omaha was 10-7 going into today's game 3, which the O-Royals won. Starters were Zephyrs RH Brian Stokes (2-1, 1.50) and Omaha RH Kyle Davies (1-1, 1.38).

AA - NW Arkansas: Naturals 1, Springfield 0

SS Sanchez 1-4, K -- .189
CF Duarte 0-3, BB, RBI (3), SB (7), picked off (2) -- .189
1B Kaaihue 0-2, BB, K -- .213, bat has cooled considerably
LF Valentin 0-3, 2 K -- .339

Pimentel 6 IP, 4 H, 4 BB, 4 K -- ND, 3.60 ERA
Mildren 2 IP, 2 H, BB, 2 K -- W, 1-2, 2.53 ERA
Lowery IP, H, 2 K -- SV, 1, 1.00 ERA

*** The Naturals were being shut out on 3 hits in the 8th but somehow scratched out a run that made the difference in the opener with Springfield. Starter Julio Pimentel gave up 2 singles in the 1st but stranded both runners and then worked around 2 hits and 2 walks in the 2nd. Marc Maddox singled and advanced to third with no outs in the 3rd but was thrown out on a fielder's choice at home and the inning proved fruitless for NW Arkansas. The Naturals stranded 2 in the 4th and Maddox got nailed at third in the 5th. Paul Mildren replaced Pimentel in the 7th and stranded the bases full. Adam Donachie started the Naturals 8th by reaching on a fielding error and pinch runner Ovandy Suero got to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a Jose Duarte groundout. Devon Lowery left a runner at second in picking up his 1st save in the 9th. Springfield starter Jaime Garcia went the full 8 IP but took the loss with an UER on 3 hits, 4 walks and 10 Ks to drop to 2-2 with a 2.35 ERA. Cards LF Shane Robinson was 2-3 with a walk and his 2nd SB to move to .360 and SS Tyler Greene was also 2-3 with 2 SB (6) to move to .207.

NWA moved to 5-11. They lost today's game in extras. Starters were Rowdy Hardy and Clayton Mortensen. Mildren took Luke Hochevar's spot in Omaha, which probably means Hideo Nomo's time as a Royal is finito. IF Ed Lucas was activated from the Naturals' DL to take Mildren's spot.

A-Adv. - Wilmington: rainout

*** The teams played a twinbill today and the Keys swept it. Aaron Hartsock and Greg Holland took the losses. IF Kurt Mertins was named Carolina League Player of the Week Monday. From April 14-20, Mertins hit .500 with 2 doubles, a triple and 2 RBIs.

A - Burlington: off day

*** The Bees started a 3-game set at the Quad Cities River Bandits (8-9, A Cardinals) today and won the opener. Eduardo Paulino got the win. QC's roster features Cards' prospect SS Peter Kozma (.895 OPS thus far).